Vegetarianism is following a plant-based diets (fruits, vegetables, etc.), with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat, poultry and seafood.

Vegetarianism may be adopted for several different reasons including health, religious, cultural, aesthetic, political, environmental, etc. There are varieties of the diet as well: an ovo- vegetarian diet includes eggs but not dairy products, a lacto-vegetarian diet includes dairy products but not eggs, and an ovo- lacto-vegetarian diet includes both eggs and dairy products. A vegan diet excludes allanimal oroducts, including eggs and dairy. Read more .......

Vegetarianism is following a plant-based diets (fruits, vegetables, etc.), with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat, poultry and seafood.

Vegetarianism may be adopted for several different reasons including health, religious, cultural, aesthetic, political, environmental, etc. There are varieties of the diet as well: an ovo- vegetarian diet includes eggs but not dairy products, a lacto-vegetarian diet includes dairy products but not eggs, and an ovo- lacto-vegetarian diet includes both eggs and dairy products. A vegan diet excludes allanimal oroducts, including eggs and dairy.
In the Asian instance the diet was closely connected with the idea of nonviolence towards animals (called ahimsa) and is promoted by religious groups and philosophers. In the west many people choose a vegetarian diet because of their concern over animal rights or the environment while others may have more than one reason for choosing to be vegetarian.

Following a strict vegetarian diet, one must be very careful and make sure their diets include enough nutrients to promote good health. Vegetarians need to be particularly careful to include key nutrients such as protein, calcium, iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and zinc that may be lacking in a vegetarian diet: It is important to know how to get enough of these nutrients, or you may need to take a daily multiple vitamin and mineral supplement.
Sea vegetables, bean sprouts, iron-fortified breakfast cereals, legumes (chickpeas, peas, lentils, and beans), soybeans and tofu, dried fruit (raisins and figs), pumpkin seeds, broccoli, and blackstrap molasses are all rich in iron. Eating these foods along with food high in vitamin C such as citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, and broccoli will help to absorb the iron better. Dairy products, peas and beans are rich in protein
Women and girls need to be especially concerned about getting adequate iron and vitamin B because some iron is lost during menstruation. They may not get adequate iron and vitamin B from vegetable sources and may require a daily supplement. It is suggested that you check with your doctor about your own mineral and vitamin needs.

On this page, we will be posting vegetarian recipes of various origins – eastern and western. The Indian/Guyanese recipes were learned during my childhood and teenage years from my mother, Rajkumarie Mahadeo – Mama, while she prepared meals for the family and for the endless stream of guests who stayed at our home on the Corentyne Coast in Guyana Other recipes are those which I learned during my travels and interaction with fellow students, friends and co-workers.

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Tips that benefit our Health and our Planet

“I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority”. Elwyn Brooks White

We need to make personal changes and greater effort to preserve and protect our natural resources and environment. Most of us would probably need to make major changes to our daily routine when we choose to live more naturally. This may not be easy to change but the payoff will be enormous.
By taking the time to protect, preserve and appreciate the beauty of Mother Earth, we not only improve our own health but feel more connected to our natural environment.
Remember, if we want to a long and healthy life we need to appreciate the fact that we need Mother Earth on our side. We have only one Earth. Let us protect her!!!

Go for Green Cleaning

To reduce our negative impact on the earth is to use more natural cleaning products at home. Conventional cleaners may look and smell bright and shiny, but they leave toxic residue around our home, produce poisonous runoff that affects the water supply, and waste plastic along the way. Because the manufacturers of these products don’t have to label all of the ingredients on these products, they generally don’t. This means that you may not even know what you are getting into. Switch to cleaning products that have a list of recognizable ingredients and don’t contain words like “danger” or “poison” on the label.
Better yet, make your own low-impact cleaning products. They clean your home just as well, without the health concerns. To make your own all-purpose cleaner, mix ½ cup vinegar, ¼ cup baking soda, and 2 liters of water in a spray bottle. It is cheaper and just as, or more effective, healthy and earth friendly.

Protect ourselves. Protect the Earth!

Diversify Your Diet and Eat more Local & Organic Food

Unknowingly, we consume large quantities of toxins from harmful substances which get into some of the foods we consume. This is generally from the use of chemicals to cultivate, make and preserve food products.
Organic foods are generally very expensive and most of us cannot afford to eat organic produce all the time. As such it is recommended by the Environmental Working Group to purchase organic foods that matter the most.
A list of foods called as the “Dirty Dozen” that have the highest pesticide levels in them was created by the Environmental Working Group and includes apples, celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, nectarines (imported), grapes (imported), sweet bell peppers, potatoes, blueberries (domestic), lettuce, and kale or collard greens
It is recommended that by buying organic versions of (or by avoiding them altogether) we can reduce our pesticide exposure by almost 80 percent!
In addition to organic and local fare, we need to make sure that we consume a variety of unprocessed whole foods and grains as well as a variety of fruits and vegetables
With a diversified, healthy diet there is no need to worry about the ill effects of one or two bad food products we may have consumed.

And remember, when we reduce our exposure to pesticides and chemicals in our diet/food source, we are taking action to protect and save the Earth!

Water

According to an investigation by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), there are at least 315 pollutants) in the tap water Americans drink. These come from industry, agriculture, pollution, and runoff from urban and suburban sprawl, and more than half of these are unregulated chemicals for which no safety standards have been created
We need to protect ourselves by protecting our water. Start by protecting your water at home with a filtration system that uses carbon-based filters and use your own reusable glass or stainless steel water bottle to carry your filtered water around with you, instead of using the plastic bottled water. Bottled water has been found to be no healthier than tap water and all those bottles add up to a real, hazardous waste problem. Let us reduce the stress on Mother Earth!